Air compressor for air tools?
 

So guys what do u guys recommend for an air compressor for home that is a good enough for air tools or should I just go electric... All I plan doing is basic car stuff with it not trying to open a shop lol.. Lmk ur opinions boys..

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Air is always better.
Choose your tools and see what the minimum required PSI is and then buy something that gives you at least 25% more than that. You can always dial back pressure but can't increase it if the unit doesn't have enough.

Do gallons matter

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Yes...always go as big as you can afford and have room to fit...the more the better. Like memory for computers, you want as big a reservoir as possible. And like Tcoat says, make sure the flow rate of the compressor is more than capable for the tools you will be using.

Cool I'm looking at a 30 gallons which are around 150 to 200 and that's has much space as I have as well.. Looked at really like good electric ones and go for 300+... With that I'll buy compressor drill and wrench lol

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Air tools are great, but you'll be hard pressed to find any shop now that doesn't have a cordless impact wrench and drill.

Impact wrench is the quickest way to fuck up a fastener. Breaker bar to loosen, torque wrench to finish. If you want fast, use a cordless drill.

Yes, I definitely recommend an air compressor for air tools. They work way better that way.

Also...even though I have an air compressor and 2 air rachets and die grinder I never use the air tools...always manual or electric. My air compressor is just for airing up the vehicle tires...which it does most excellently...30 gallon would be about the minimum you'd want.

What is basic car stuff that needs a drill? Go corded electric drill for inexpensive yet heavy duty and dependable service. Cordless are okay for light and infrequent use... not the best at extended or heavy duty use.

Seriously I only use my air compressor for remodel jobs. Mostly with my brad nailer. Never used on on cars. Easy to strip something out

By basic I mean removing lugs.. Removing suspension bolts... Pretty much to do small projects on the car

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By the time you got out your impact wrench and air hose, fired up the compressor, and oiled the tool, I'd have 2 wheels off with a breaker bar.

Gratuitous tools for such infrequent, small-scale work, IMHO. I have a full set: 1/2" impact, 3/8" butterfly, air ratchet, die grinder, blah blah blah. Never use them.

Compressor to air up tires but I fine-tune with a bicycle pump. :thumbsup:

I have a portible six gallon compressor. I was thinking of having a secondary wall tank as a reserve for when I need it, but I rarely use it. Air tools would be nice in certain situations or would be perfect if I owned a business and was doing volume work, but I dont.

Agreed that it's unnecessary for hobby work, the only time it would actually be useful is if you have to disassemble some POS that's seized, and even then most air tools wouldn't be strong enough and you need to cut through it.

All you need are hand tools and a corded electric or two, the cordless stuff batteries die after less than five years in my experience and then it's tough to find replacements, I've used some corded electrics that are older than I am, probably made before Reagan took office.

33 gallon and a good gun is sufficient for any car job...i've used my 33g craftsman for years and it has done a great job on all projects (87 pickup v8 swap, 02 tacoma v8 swap, 3sgte swap, suspension swaps, etc,)...i've done it using my stone age makita cordless drill too....so it's really up to you.

SCFM is what matters with air compressors. High demand tools require more SCFM. The size of the tank is almost irrelevant. A low SCFM compressor on a big tank wont run squat for very long. If you are using air ratchets, or impact wrenches the demand is not particularly high. These tools are also run intermittently which also lessens demand. Most pneumatic tools have a maximum operating pressure of 90psi. A 150psi compressor only lets you overload the tool, which is not necessary. Maximum pressure shouldn't be something you are looking for.

Bottom line, find the tools you want to run and see how much the minimum SCFM required is. Buy the compressor with the most SCFM you can afford. The tank size should only be an afterthought, as most compressors with high SCFM ratings have larger tanks. I have a 20gal Husky that lives in my race trailer, 4scfm. It will run ratchets and impact wrenches all day long. It will run cutoff wheels almost continuous. Air sanders and air hammers are more intermittent, but its always got the job done.

I have an IR 50 gallon at my shop and the thing is a beast, but it was super expensive. Id buy it again in a heartbeat though, its lasted 15 years and I have yet to do anything but drain the water out of the tank and oil it here and there.

Oh and 30 gallons is massively overkill for filling tires. I have mounted huge 15x18" sprint car tires with a 5 gallon compressor in less than 15 seconds. Tires don't require a lot of air!

Electric tools are OK if you aren't dealing with rust or anything more than 80lb-ft or so of torque. I find that air is easier for me as I have reels hanging from my ceiling in my garage.

One more thing - Don't use air on wheel lugs! breaker bar to loosen, torque wrench to tighten. Otherwise you had better be good at replacing studs.

WAT.

Do you do this at the track? Do people laugh? Why? Do you runtire bleeders to maintain that pressure?

Tires get hot, air expands, pressure goes up. Can you not hit the tire pressure to within 1PSI with compressor and an air gauge? Does your air gauge not have a bleeder?

I don't get it.

It's easier than whipping out the extension cord & compressor for a few PSI.